Geno invades Danbury

UConn women's coach keeps fans laughing

Published 6:16 pm, Thursday, September 3, 2009

DANBURY -- Geno Auriemma has had quite a career as the UConn women's basketball coach.

But Thursday, the Hall of Famer proved he may have a future in standup comedy.

With a handful of shots at rival Tennessee and anecdotes about his family and players, Auriemma turned a quiet early morning crowd of over 400 hysterical Thursday at the third annual Housatonic Valley Sports Organizing Committee charity breakfast at the Amber Room Colonnade.

"He was absolutely sensational," HV Sports president Dick Murray said of Auriemma, who received two standing ovations. "He was incredibly entertaining. I never realized he was this funny."

"You know, some rivalries are one-sided," Auriemma said. "And you know how women can be. Sometimes they get their thumb up their butt and don't want to play you anymore."

The UConn coach was clearly making a reference to Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, whom Auriemma claims abruptly ended the regular-season series between the Huskies and Volunteers.

But Auriemma, who won his sixth national title and recorded his third perfect season last year, wasn't done taking aim at the Volunteers.

"Tennessee likes to brag about how they have eight national titles," Auriemma said. "Well, they would have 12 if they could beat us (in the national championship game)."

But Auriemma was quick to point out it is his players and their attitudes that has distinguished his program.

"You look at Rutgers and Tennessee and they got five starters who were first-team All-Americans (in high school)," Auriemma said. "So do we, but it's the way our guys work together within a system. It's the way we play that has made us the best team in the country."

And Auriemma left no one wondering who he considers to be the best team this year.

"We are the best team in the country," Auriemma said. "Duke, Baylor and Oklahoma are pretty good. Someone has to play for second and third."

This year's team, Auriemma said, has the right attitude to win another title and took the time to praise not just his players, but all women's basketball players, including the WestConn women's team, which was in attendance.

"People don't realize the effort these girls put in," Auriemma said. "A lot of people think they get special treatment. Well, they do. (Division I players) go to school for free, but it's not free. They work for everything they get and I think our fans in this state appreciate that."

That might have been Auriemma's most serious moment of the day.

The UConn coach also joked with Rajcula, the former WestConn women's coach, that she had no chance of landing New Fairfield native and ex-UConn star and now Hartford women's hoops coach Jen Rizzotti.

"I'm sorry, but she wasn't coming to WestConn," Auriemma said to Rajcula, who claimed to still be mad at him for stealing her. "If anything, I think she was going to Southern (Connecticut)."

Auriemma also said he is looking forward to coaching the U.S. women's team for the 2012 London Olympics. On that squad, he is expecting to have former Huskies Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and others.

And for that team, he admitted, he will have to change his coaching philosophy.

"With my current team, I've got to tell some girls what to do with the ball," Auriemma said. "With Diana, I'm just going to tell her to do whatever she wants with it."

Despite all his kidding around, Auriemma did not lose sight of the importance of Thursday's fundraiser for HV Sports.

"They do a great job bringing sports to this area," Auriemma said of HV Sports. "It's important for me and for everyone to support organizations which contribute to the state and to athletics."